AI ranks last among voter concerns in 2026 US midterms, exit polls show
NBC exit polls found only 56 percent of voters cited AI and data centers as an important factor, far behind corruption and the cost of living.
Artificial intelligence ranked last among the issues that shaped voters' choices in the 2026 U.S. midterm elections, according to NBC exit polls. Only 56 percent of respondents said AI and data centers were an important factor in how they voted.
The issues at the top of the list were far more pressing for most Americans. Corruption was cited by 90 percent of respondents and the cost of living by 89 percent, figures that dominated the electoral debate despite growing public attention to the technology and its effects.
The findings stand in contrast to the broader discussion about AI, which has increasingly moved into political debate over jobs, energy consumption and the power of technology companies. Data centers, in particular, have drawn scrutiny in several communities because of their demand for electricity and water. Yet the exit polls suggest that these concerns did not translate into a decisive voting issue for most of the electorate this cycle.
For political parties and campaigns, the results offer a clear signal about voter priorities. Economic pressures and questions of public integrity appear to have outweighed technology policy in the minds of voters, even as AI continues to gain visibility in public life.
Source: the-decoder.com
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